Ship-hatch.



A. MCDOUGALL.

SHIP HATCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1917.

Patented June 25, 1918.

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SHIP HATCH.- APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22, 191

l Patented June 25, 1918.

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ALEXANDER MGDOUGALL, 0F DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

SHIP-HATCH.

specification of Letters raient. Patented June 25, 1918.

Application iled September 252, 1917. Serial No. 192,690.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER McDoU- GALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ship- Ha-tches, of which the following is a specification, reference'being had therein to the accompanying drawinga This invention consists of certain novel and useful improvements in ship hatches and the method of making same water and air tight and relates particularly to a class of ship constructed with a view of receiving the wash of waves upon her deck while at sea and upon which type of ship a number of patents have been recently issued to me.

\ The specific form of hatch and coaming to which this invention is peculiarly applicable is such as that disclosed in my United States Patent Number 1,199,802, dated Oct. 3rd, 1916 and entitled Ship hatch.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means and disclose a method by which such hatches may be made quickly and securely water and air tight, not only for the purposes of ordinary maritime commerce, but to provide against sinking of the ship in the event of accident or damage by acts of warfare.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the further disclosure of same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application and in which like reference characters designate like Parts: 1

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a fragmental portion of the deck of a vessel equipped with the general form of hatch cover and coaming disclosed in my patent above referred to, one of the hatch covers being partly removed from its respective opening,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional athwartships view through a portion of one of the hatch covers and the hatch coaming,

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken fore and aft the hatch and centrally thereof illustrating the manner of adjusting the hatch cover, and

Fig. 4e is a similar though fragmental view. illustrating the manner of applying the hook for moving the hatch covers fore and aft.

1 represents the deck of the vessel and 2 the hatch openings therein, which are come men in the arti l Securely fixed to the deck 1 and about the edges of the hatch openings 2 is the low Hat metal bar 8 forming the hatch coaming, the upper face of which is inclined downwardly away from the hatch around the entire surface thereof and provided with a plurality of hatch bolt holes `-le which are spaced to register with similar holes 5 in the hatch cover 6 when the latter is in place, the holes in the cover, being plain straight holes, and those in the coaming, being internally screw threaded for receiving the similarly formed hatch bolts 7, and each hole in the coaming being provided with a drain slot or limber 8,-all of which construction is similar to that known in the prior art, except that the packing 9, which is let into the upper face of the hatch coaming 3, is located upon the inner side of the row of hatch bolt holes, instead of upon the outer side as shown in my patent above referred to, and which location herein disclosed forms an important part of my present invention. In practice the placing of fixed strips of rubber outside of the row of holes has proven to be defective in that it becomes possible under certain conditions for air or water to work through the holes about the bolts and eventually into the hatchway, but when the packing is placed inside of the row of holes, such action of the water or airbecomes impossible.

'Within the upper inclined face of the coaming 3, close to the inneredge of the line of bolt holes i and continuous around the entire hatch is formed a groove or channel 20, it being preferably wider at the bottoni than at the top and of a size to snugly hold the round cord or packing 9 and which latter is of a size to be readily removed at any time and replaced by a new one.

The groove 20 is preferably of a size and and the packing round permits of greater' scope ci the elasticproperty of the packing shape similar to that known in the art in i,

and when damaged or becoming inefficient from any cause inayvbe'quickly removed' and replaced by a new one.

To further insure a tight joint between the coaming and the hatch cover and to pro- Vide against the necessity'of having to force compressed air within the hull of the vessel when danger of sinking occurs, which would require an exceptionallytight hatch joint, I 4have Vprovided a smaller flexible cord 10, such "as'cotton or the like, which is placed bet'ween the-hatch cover'and the coaming and-insideof'the packing 9, as illustrated in Fig. Q `of the drawings.` This cord would rdinalrfily be 'putinplace after thel cover is positioned over the coaming andas is obyv-ic` f1s may be so placed 'by holding one end I vizedfandpassing thev Gtheraround the entire hatchland 'drawing ittightly into the crack between the vcover and the coaming until the two' ends are crossed one over the other-when thahatchbolts '7 are put in 'place and the cover screwed -t`ightly"upon Ythe cord and the packing'. As`- a"still"further precaution against'fleakagefof 'air or 'water, I have illus- `trated ase'c'on'd loose and larger cord 11 viii'fhi'ch Larrayibeplaced, in position after the hatch bolts have been applied and which are Ppinched' simultaneously with the smaller herd 110 and the packing 9 ,when the bolts are `s`fcrewed-` home.

It is evidenthat with care the cord inig'ht be'placed abut'the coa-ming'before 'the hatch cover is drawn into position, but, ,in'practiea I'pr'efer to employ the method ;first'des'cribed.,

acent the sides of thefhatch rcoaming .3 :across the`v ends'of the hatches and-in a con- `'ti'nuusline 'inter-mediate of the hatches, is securely fixed tthe deck 1, either by rivetingfor Ab olting"thereto, a'plurality of guide .f'pegsV 12.5- 'These pegs are lpreferably cyl1n- :dri'c'al in shape yand are Yslightly `round on top to forzm; "asI smooth and yieldable engage- 45 lmenta"s"p'ossible with the hatch covers' when "contaetingsamejand fare spaced a slight distarfce outside of the' normal path of the hatch cover.' :These pegs act guides to the Lhatch cover to prevent them becoming materially dislodged from" proper alinement either while upon the'coaming or when vbeing inov'edto Onfrom' same".7 In the' preferred jairangement loff'h'atches fas Villustrated in "Figlftheldistanee between the hatch 'opening'issinewhat greate'rthan the width of a single opening and I have illustrated in vsuchspace adjacent one hatch opening two Pgle assecurely-"iXed to the deck 1 andfwhich actas stops for the hatch cover, which'i's drawn lagainst same, to prevent the hover frofri'fbeing `entirely withdrawn from v't' cfaniing for obvious reasons, and there -s-'o `fi'ied'to the vdeck and incloseproX- 1 1 'fjtojth dge of "each hatch toward 65 "Jthe'coi'fer isdiaw'n when closing the hatches, two similar pegs 14, they acting as stops to the -hatch cover for properly positioning same.

As a means for drawing the hatch covers to or from the coaming, I have illustrated the -clip 15 fastened centrally to eachforward and after edge of the hatch cover, the free end of said clip being inclined up- `wardly from a plane with the top of the cover and having a. suitable 'hole 16 therethrough to admit of ready application of the line-hook 17 and b v which the cover ma y be manipulated fore and aft.. of the vessel.

Adjacent each forward and after edge of the coaming 3 and centrally thereof is securely riveted to the Vdeck 1 a small piece of plate 18 having a 'hole 19 therethrough which hole should approximately register with the hole 16 in the corresponding clip 15 "above same when the hatch cover is in place slightmovement of the bar in any desired horizontal direction will move the hatch cover slightly and lbyv which the holes in the cover and the' coaming are'easily made to properly register for application of the hatch bolts. p' In this manner the clips 15 are made to perfor-ma double-'function both of which are'very/"essential in the practical manipulation of the hatch covers.

vIt is known' in the art that in the success ful use of a large hatch cover operated as a single unit some fore and aft ,supports in the hatchway become'uecessaryand these I have illustratedat Q2 as removable strong backs and which may be'installed or removed as desired. y y While I have 'illustrated the iexible 'loose cords which are not let into the coaming as being in combinationwith a' larger packing 'cord which is let into the'coaming-it is evident that either separately might prove sutlicient for the conditions in handnnd that largely depending upon the service in which the vessel-was engaged, but it has proven in practice to be fvery desirable to use the loose vcords within the joint when a permanently fixed rubber packing is used as in my former patent' above referred to.

Thus I have provided asimple, cheap and eiiicient."form 4of water and air tight hatch, the same'bei'rge'xceedingly 'inexpensivc,l easy of'application and adjustment and one that restores 'to the deck of the ship when bolted in -place a A'unifo'rn'i -yielda-blef structure over the entire area of the deck ardfoi'ms little.

fil

. Lamaze or no obstruction to the water when the deck is awash. f

While l have shown the hatch coverl being composed of a single metal plate, itis evident that the same may be built up of a plurality of lplates if desired and that various other modifications oit` the' specific construction illustrated and within the scope of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the lspirit thereof.

Having thus ydescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a ship hatch the combination with a low `iiat hatch coaming having an upper surface inclined downwardly from the hatch opening, a packing embedded within such surface and a hatch cover, of hatch bolts passing through the cover and engaging the coaming outside of the packing. j I

2. A shipshatch comprising,in` combination a low kdat coaming about thehatclnsaid coaming havingan upper surface inclined downwardly from the hatch and carrying a packing embedded within the inclined surface, a hatch cover covering the entire opening and the upper surface of the coaming, bolts'passing through the hatch covcr and into the coaming outside of the packingfandl a row of upstanding guiding pegs lixed to thc deck adjacent each end of the hatch and intermediate of same for guiding the hatch covers as they are moved to and from the hatches.

3. A ships hatch comprising in combination a low fiat coaming, said coaming having an upper surface inclined downwardly from the hatch and carrying a resilient packing embedded within the inclined surface, a hatch cover for cooperatively engaging the coaming, bolts passing through the cover and into the coaming outside of the packing, flexible removable cords placed intermediate of the cover and the coaming, one between the packing and the innermost edge of the coaming and the other outside of the bolts and adjacent the outer edge oit the hatch, means for sliding the hatch cover to and from the hatch and means for guiding the cover as it is being operated.

4. The combination with a ships hatch, having a low flat coaming about the opening thereof, said coaming having an upper surface inclined downwardly 'from the hatch, a resilient rubber embedded within the coaming, a slidable cover for coperative engagement with the ccaming and `bolts arranged outside of the resilient packing for forcibly holding thev cover down upon the innermost corner of the coaming and the packing, of a removable iexible cord inserted intermediate of the cover and the coaming .in such a manner as to be impinged simultaneously with the packing substantially as described.

5. 5The hereindescribed method ot` making a water andz air tight hatch cover `joint in` which a, space.occursintermediate of the cover and `the coaming, ot placing a iiexible cord within such space and :wholly about the hatch ,beiorebinding the hatch cover and coaming togethergwhereby the" cord, becomes tightly impinged intermediate oit the cover and `coaming and effectually` calks such joint. n l Y 6. The herein described method lof making a water and air tight "hatch cover joint inwhicha graduated space occurs intermediate of the: cover and the coaming andthe two held vtogether by screw bolts, oi' vholding at one ,corner of the hatch onccnd of a flexible cordpassing around'the hatch with the opposite end-of` the cord and` havingit snugly` fit- 4into 4the graduated vSpace oir/all v fourv sidesof the hatch,y then crossing the endsoft-thge cord at `.the first mentioned corner ofthe hatch and drawing thecover down tightly upon the cord by means of the Screw bolts.,,

. y 7.111 a ships hatch,thecombination with a low fiat hatch coaming having an upper surface inclined downwardly `from the hatch opening, of an fangnlarlyv` shaped groove formed in the upper surface of thc coaming and entirely around the hatch, a removable round packing within the groove, a row of bolt holes adjacent the groove and upon the outer side thereof in respect to the hatchway, a hatch cover having holes registerable with the holes in the coaming and bolts in the holes for holding the cover tightly upon the coaming and the packing.

8. In a ships hatch, the combination with a low fiat hatch coaming having kan upper surface' inclined downwardly from the hatch opening, a continuous groove formed in said surface wholly about the hatch and a hatch cover, of a removable round packing cord within said groove and hatch bolts arranged adjacent to and outside of the packing for holding the cover tightly against the packing and the coaming.

9. The combination with a ships hatch,

having a cover operated as a single unit and held in place by hatch bolts, of a clip fixed to the edge of the cover and having a hole therethrough for engagementv either with a hook and .line for moving the cover on and olf the coaming. or a hand bar for final adjustment of the cover before applying the bolts.

l0. In combination, a hatch coaming having an upper face inclined downwardly away from the hatch, a hatch cover operated as a single unit normally resting upon the innermost edges oit' the coaming, registerable holes in the coaming and in the cover, ja clip having a hole therethrou h fastened centrally to each forward after edge of the hatch ccver by which the sever eo j lim

mayf'be`v drawnft-o or fromthe eoaning', a plate fixedto the decl(upon which the hatch is located adjacent the coamingon each forward and vafter side thereof and beneath the clips; and holes in the plates which substantially register with the holes in the clips, whereby avhand bar may be placed through the hole in one of the clips and the lower end engaged in the hole in theA corresponding plate Jfor moving the hatch cover. I

v 11. In combination, a hatch coaming havingr an upper faceY inclinedy 'downwardly away from the hatch anebhavi'ngboltholes therein, a hatch coveroperated as a single uni@ normally res'tingj'tipon the il'iriermost edges ofk the coaining and having holes therein registei'able withl the hole in the coamin'g, a clip having'a hole therethriigh, fastened 'centrally to each forward `and after edge of the hatch cver and by which the covermay bedrawn to and from thecOaming,` a hole supported by the deck upon `which the hatch is"v located adjacent the coamingr on 'each .forward and after side 'there-'of beneath the? clips and sbstantially registering wat the .nous ia the Clips,

edpisof une patent may te obrante@ fer whereby a hand bar may be placed through the holes in the clips and engaged in the hole on the deck for adjusting the hatch cover to place.

12. In combination a ships hatch coaming having bolt holes therein, a hatch cover operated as a single unit normally resting upon the coaming and having holes therein registerable with the holes in the coaming, a clip having a hole therethrough fastened centrally to each forward and after edge of the hatch cover by which the cover may be drawn to and from the coalning or adjusted while upon the coaming, a hand bar extendible through the holes in the clips, ineens below the clips and supported by the deck of thev ship for engagement with the end of the hand bar to hold same against movement while adjusting the hatch cover to its proper position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER MGDOUGALL.

lVitneSses: y

L. C. BRoNsoN, S'. Geo. STEVENS.

five cents each, 5y addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Wliingtlm, D.v c. 

